By CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT

State Election Laws defective.  Many state suffrage amendments undoubtedly lost by frauds in elections.  In twenty-four states election law or precedents offer no correction of returns in fraudulent amendment elections.  In twenty-three states Contest on election returns probably possible.  In eight states recount of votes made.  A court procedure and expensive.  Punishment for bribery.  Relation to Contest.  Ohio cases.  Vagueness of election laws protects corruption.  Ignorant vote used by corrupt.  Form of ballot often helps corruption.  Only 13 states have headless ballots.  Form of Suffrage amendment ballots in recent years aided in defeat of measure.  Examples.  Non-partisan referendum not protected from fraud like party questions.  In most states women cannot be watchers at polls.  Aliens can vote in eight states.  Illiterate can vote in most states.  Resume.

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THE STORY OF THE 1916 REFERENDA

By Carrie Chapman Catt

Three states voted on Woman Suffrage amendments.  Some causes of failure.  Story of Iowa election.  Woman’s Christian Temperance Union proves forty-seven varieties of corruption.  South Dakota.  Foreign vote defeated Woman Suffrage there.  Figures of some counties.  Relation between Prohibition and Woman Suffrage votes.  West Virginia.  Illiteracy and conservatism defeated Woman Suffrage there.  Liquor influence felt.  Corruption in Berkely County, West Virginia.  Special Legislative session called but investigation of frauds abandoned.  Analysis of vote of certain counties.  Resume.

CHAPTER V 55

FEDERAL ACTION AND STATES RIGHTS

By Henry Wade Rogers

Judge of U.S.  Circuit Court of Appeals, N.Y.C.

Would Federal Amendment violate local self-government or conflict with State Rights?  States rights a sound doctrine, but has been perverted, misapplied and carried to extremes.  Henry St. George Tucker maintains this way of gaining woman suffrage is contrary to rightful demarcation of powers of federal and state governments.  Constitutional Convention 1787 provided that amendments be ratified by three-fourths State Legislatures, State Constitutions may not violate United States Constitution for this is supreme Law.  Amendment to U.S.  Constitution valid regardless of provisions in State Constitutions.  Ratification by State Legislatures does not violate States rights for by it states act as sovereigns.  Same argument for removal of sex line in Suffrage as that on which 13th, 14th and 15th amendments were based. 15th amendment gives the sound basis for woman suffrage amendment.

CHAPTER VI 69